Go Nuts -- Eating More Is Good for You

I used to regularly visit a nut shop downtown run by a lively old lady whose claim to health and longevity was that she snacked on the nuts she sold all day long. Since then, nuts have always been my guilty pleasure. I eat them every morning with yogurt. I love their crunch and their endless variety -- cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, macadamias, walnuts. From pecans to pine nuts to pistachios -- I love them all.

What I haven't loved is their bad reviews. That old lady was the only one who stood by her nuts, while everybody warned her that nuts are high fat, artery cloggers, pound-packers, and as bad as butter. Those nut naysayers had a point: Anyone who has ever dieted knows that the first thing on your do-not-eat list is nuts, nuts, nuts.

The old lady, who lived until she was 94, never knew the popularity of health-boosting products such as almond milk and coconut water. During her years, nut sources -- like almonds and coconuts -- were dismissed as merely fillers for candy bars and toppings for cakes.

I only wish she were around today because nuts really are good for you. The U.S. FDA has already recognized tree nuts for their ability to lower LDL (the bad) cholesterol. But according to a paper published today by Dr. John Sievenpiper, a researcher in the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, tree nuts do more than that.

Contrary to our common perception of nuts as unhealthy, Dr. Sievenpiper found a modest decrease in blood fats known as triglycerides and blood sugars among people who added tree nuts to their diets compared to those who ate a control diet. Dr. Sievenpiper, himself a nut-lover, said that in his past work on developing clinical guidelines for diabetes, he and his colleagues wanted to examine the role of nuts in the diet: "We knew there was some benefit, but we didn't have enough information to know if there was an actual clinical benefit," he told me.

His study, published today in the journal BMJ Open, looked at 49 randomized control trials with 2,000 participants in order to examine the effect of tree nuts on metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome (a group of factors that raise the risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke) is present if someone has three of the following risk factors: Low levels of good cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or extra weight around the waist.

Eating tree nuts (not peanuts as they are legumes) helps to reduce two of the five markers for metabolic syndrome, says Dr. Sievenpiper. Yet in North America, likely because of our fat phobia, we consume on average less than one serving of tree nuts per day. "Yes, the issue with nuts has been that they are considered high in fat and we have been fat phobic for a long time." In the randomized control studies, patients ate about 1 1/2 servings or about 50 grams -- salted and unsalted; one serving is about 1/4 cup or 30 grams.

Dr. Sievenpiper said the biggest reductions in triglycerides and blood glucose were seen when tree nuts replaced refined carbohydrates rather than saturated fats. Nuts have a high fat content, but the good unsaturated kind of fat. "Fifty grams of nuts can be easily integrated into a diet as a snack or as a substitute for animal fats or refined starches like rice, bread, potatoes and crackers," he explained. Try them in salads, stir fries, or use them as a meat alternative. "Think of your diet as a portfolio that can improve your metabolic health, your blood fat and blood sugar health." Adding nuts is one more positive way to make your diet more healthy.

One interesting aspect of his study was that those who ate nuts gained no extra weight. Dr. Sievenpiper suggests the reason may be that people are managing their intake very well. The other thing about nuts, he says, is that the calories on their label do not necessarily equal the calories that are metabolized by the body or are bio-available, he explains: Once in our digestive system nuts may equal fewer calories than we think. "Nuts fell out of favor when we had all that low-fat dietary advice for such a long time. But I think that nuts are experiencing a kind of renaissance. And yes, they are definitely heart-healthy."

MORE ON HUFFPOST:

Walnuts

Getty

The fountain of youth may not be full of water, but walnuts! Listen to this litany of anti-aging benefits: Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which significantly boost memory and recall. They reduce inflammation and promote more relaxed, dilated blood vessels, which can turn back the time on heart disease. “Walnuts make endothelium dysfunction (a condition of the inner arterial layer that instigates heart disease progression) more functional,” says Brill. “They also lower your cholesterol and make your blood less likely to clot.”

Peanuts

Getty

That perennial ballpark favorite, the peanut, is an anti-aging grand slam. These tasty legumes contain resveratrol (also found in red wine and dark chocolate), which is a potent antioxidant known to help slow aging and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. “Peanuts also contain folic acid and vitamin E for improved brain health,” says Dr. Paul. Prefer your peanuts in butter form? Go ahead and indulge in the all-natural variety (look for “no added sugar” on the label) and enjoy a spread rich in vitamin E, niacin, folate, protein and manganese.

Brazil nuts

Getty

These jumbo nuts are a staple in most bridge mixes, but they’re a nutritional powerhouse all their own. “Brazil nuts are high in selenium which helps the body produce illness-fighting antioxidants,” says Dr. Paul. They’re also rich in zinc, which helps in new skin production (this is particularly beneficial if you’re prone to cuts and scrapes, as skin becomes more fragile with age). And be sure to nudge that nut dish towards the men in your life: “Brazil nuts are also potentially helpful in preventing prostate cancer,” adds Dr. Paul.

Almonds

Getty

Almonds have all of the nutritional benefits of their nutty brethren, but with the highest amount of healthy vegetable protein (6 grams per serving), they’re also the best for maintaining a healthy diet. “Almonds are one of the lower calorie nuts, with the highest amount of calcium,” says Dr. Paul. In addition to being waistline-friendly, they also boast a generous dosage of vitamin E, which Dr. Paul says "boosts memory and can potentially reduce cognitive decline."

Pecans

Getty

You probably associate pecans with indulgences like pecan pie, and there’s a reason—they’re denser in fat and calories than most other nuts. But eaten in moderation (preferably raw) they are just as nutritious as other nuts, with individual health benefits of their own: “Pecans are especially high in beta-sitosterol, which can help with prostate health and reduce prostate and urinary symptoms in older men,” says Dr. Paul.

Pistachios

Getty

Looking to boost your arterial health? Get crackin’—pistachios, that is! “Pistachios contain l-arginine, which can make the lining of your arteries more flexible and potentially reduce heart attack and stroke risk,” says Dr. Paul. Additionally, pistachios are lower in calories, and since most of them have to be shelled before eating, they help pace your eating and moderate your digestion.

Pine nuts

Getty

While you usually don’t think of pine nuts in the traditional snacking sense, they’re still a nutrient-rich tree nut that can significantly help lower bad LDL cholesterol. “Pine nuts contain lots of manganese, which is an important co-factor for one of the body's most powerful antioxidants,” says Dr. Paul. Even better? They’re the base ingredient for pesto sauce, so it’s simple to spoon them into your diet.